Yeast Infection

[Doomy]

Hello all,

I'm a 28 year old male who has recently come down with a yeast infection. Here's the rundown of how things developed...

I had my appendix removed in July 2008. I was in the hospital for a day and a half on antibiotics and then was released. I was not given follow-up antibiotics to take, recovery was pretty swift.

Around this time I switched soaps from Irish Spring to Dial Antibacterial.

A few months later, I began experiencing an itch around my genitals and in the cleft of my buttocks. It did not seem too unusual as I've always had a bit of an itch around the genital area at least, particularly after a night of sleeping and sweating.

In December 2008 I noticed an usual smell coming from the crease between my leg and my groin, and an itch there. There was a slight discharge as well, white. I was weirded out but of course told myself those dangerous words "maybe it will go away."

In mid December I started having nasal problems. A little congestion, dryness, and a pretty serious post nasal drip. I was tired, had a lot of gas (burping) and an upset stomach. Around Christmas, I had some real nausea but never threw up.

Going into January, the stomach problems lessened a bit. I could eat and did not feel nauseous and my appetite largely returned. The rash in my groin persisted though, occasionally being more itchy and producing more discharge where some days had less.

I finally decided to see my doctor and she confirmed it was a yeast infection. She put me on Nystatin cream. A few days after visiting her, I noticed another infection in my left arm pit. I started applying the Nystatin there as well.

Both infection sites come and go in terms of their itchiness, but they seem to be sticking with me despite using Nystatin for almost two weeks. So I am going back in to see the doctor again, and hopefully the emergence of the second infection in my arm pit will encourage her to prescribe me an oral anti-fungal.

Some other steps I've used to kick candida to the curb...

1. Apple Cider Vinegar (Braggs, with The Mother), 2 tsps in 8 oz of water at least twice a day, usually three. I've been doing this since late December 08.

2. A once-a-day garlic tablet, been on this for more than a week now.

3. Oregano oil softgels, at least once a day. Also been on this for almost two weeks.

4. A LOT less soda in my diet, maybe one every 4-5 days at most. I stopped drinking soda around late December 08.

5. A multi-vitamin, which I just started today.

6. Flax seed/Omega-3 softgels, which I just started today.

7. Using regular soap rather than Dial anti-bacterial. I just changed back to regular soap a few days ago, after a friend advised me that the anti-bacterial soap may be killing beneficial yeast-eating bacteria on my skin and that may have caused this to begin with.

8. Staying generally hydrated by drinking lots of water.

I do feel better than I did a few months ago, though I still have the nasal dryness and a slight post nasal drip. I alleviate this with a saline nasal spray. This may be tied into winter dryness as I usually feel better when at home (not at work) and using a humidifier. We have had a really cold winter here in Jersey so I'm hoping this has more to do with my nasal problems.

I've been reading the threads here and I see that something I can try is coconut oil. I also have to remind myself to do the "saliva test" tomorrow morning to see if there's potential candida there. Is there anything else I can do? I plan to have my doctor test me for diabetes (I am overweight) as I hear diabetics are prone to yeast infections, and also push for an oral anti-fungal in addition to the Nystatin cream, but other advice is greatly appreciated

[dawnyama]

The one thing that I can say about candida is "DIET is key". You can be taking all the anti-fungals in the world and still have problems. You must first fight the yeast by starving it. That means no yeast products, like bread, sugar, mayonaise, vinegar (but the apple cider is OK!). Stuff like that. The oral rinse they give you is in a sugar base. It will do nothing because the yeast will still live because of the sugar. I used it for thrush in my son when he was 4 months old and it didn't work squat! What did work for me was to clean up my diet. Good luck!!!

[Doomy]

Indeed, I'm working on the diet portion as well

Giving up the soda was a big step, but it didn't go as badly as I thought. I used to have at least one can of sugary soda a day, now none. Candy wasn't so much a concern but I've also laid off that and pretty much any dessert items. I live a pretty busy life so I don't often get to eat breakfast and lunch, so my main meal a day is dinner, and I plan to cut back on the sugars, starches and such there as well. I suppose adding all this up will amount to a suitable "cleanse." Hopefully altogether I will get this stuff out of my system and then work on keeping it out!

[dawnyama]

Doomy--I am sorry but I think I misinterpreted what I stated above. You were referring to a pill when you mentioned getting your doc to prescribe an oral anti-fungal. I was talking about a solution you rub on the babies gums and assumed you wanted an oral rinse. I am sorry. If your doctor is into it go for it!! Most OB-GYNs won't even prescribe 2 Diflucan for the fear of the liver problems. I have to beg and plead to have my OB give me 2!! I know, TMI for a guy, but it is true!! I guess you will have to see how open she is about it. I wish more doctors would believe that candida is a real condition and adding yogurt to your diet just doesn't cut it!! My doc thinks the marks on my face (that I didn't even know I had!!), as well as on my neck, are candida related. But she is a DO as well as MD so she has studied this stuff whereas MD don't. I really wish you well because I know that candida is not fun. What helped me the most is a show I used to watch called Know the Cause. A guy by the name of Doug Kaufmann hosts it and is real knowlegable about yeast and fungus. He has some great ideas on his website. I cannot post a link as it is against TOS, but if you dot com his show's name you will find it. Doug has written books like, "Why Does Bread Rise?" and a few others. I bought his cancer one to pass along to my stepdad who is battling colon cancer. Oh, and this site has a bunch of info too!!!

[Linny]

Diet is KEY in ridding the body of yeast/candida...........I say go very very clean and be honest to yourself. Eat only real & whole foods. Starve the yeast by eating mostly meats & fats and very little carb if possible.

It took me 2 weeks to really feel a difference. While I was starving the yeast I developed a raging yeast infection myself (female yeast issues) but got that cleared up with some OTC medication.

I also drank a lot of milk thistle tea with extra virgin coconut oil (EVCO). I get mine at Walmart in the vitamin department. It's made by Rexall and seems to work good for me. Others here use it but others buy different brands. I pay under $10 for a tub.

I also drink Pau d'Arco tea to keep the candida under control.

I find that if I even stray a teeny tiny bit off course, the yeast comes back with a vengeance.

Just be honest with yourself and the rewards will pay off.....good luck and keep us updated.